All Things New

YEARS AGO, RADIO EVANGELIST CHARLES E. FULLER ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD SPEAK THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY ON "HEAVEN" AND THAT IT WOULD ALSO BE AIRED OVER THE RADIO.

DURING THAT WEEK HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM AN ELDERLY MAN WHO WAS VERY ILL. HERE’S A PART OF HIS LETTER: "NEXT SUNDAY YOU ARE TO TALK ABOUT "HEAVEN.

I AM INTERESTED IN THAT LAND BECAUSE I HAVE HELD A CLEAR TITLE TO A BIT OF PROPERTY THERE FOR OVER 55 YEARS. I DID NOT BUY IT. IT WAS GIVEN TO ME WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE.

BUT THE DONOR PURCHASED IT FOR ME AT A TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE. I AM NOT HOLDING IT FOR SPECULATION, SINCE THE TITLE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE.

IT IS NOT A VACANT LOT. FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY I HAVE BEEN SENDING MATERIAL OUT OF WHICH THE GREATEST ARCHITECT AND BUILDER OF THE UNIVERSE HAS BEEN BUILDING A HOME FOR ME, WHICH WILL NEVER NEED TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WILL SUIT ME PERFECTLY, INDIVIDUALLY AND WILL NEVER GROW OLD.

TERMITES CAN NEVER UNDERMINE ITS FOUNDATION FOR THEY REST UPON THE ROCK OF AGES. FIRE CANNOT DESTROY IT. FLOODS CANNOT WASH IT AWAY.

NO LOCKS OR BOLTS WILL EVER BE PLACED UPON ITS DOORS, FOR NO VICIOUS PERSON CAN EVER ENTER THAT LAND WHERE MY DWELLING STANDS, NOW ALMOST COMPLETED AND READY FOR ME TO ENTER AND ABIDE IN PEACE ETERNALLY WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING REJECTED.

THERE IS A VALLEY OF DEEP SHADOW BETWEEN THE PLACE WHERE I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA AND THAT TO WHICH I SHALL JOURNEY IN A VERY SHORT TIME. I CANNOT REACH MY HOME IN THE CITY OF GOD WITHOUT PASSING THROUGH THE DARK VALLEY OF SHADOWS.

BUT I AM NOT AFRAID, BECAUSE THE BEST FRIEND THAT I EVER HAD WENT THROUGH THE SAME VALLEY ALONE LONG, LONG AGO AND DROVE AWAY ALL THE GLOOM. HE HAS STUCK BY ME THROUGH THICK AND THIN SINCE WE FIRST BECAME ACQUAINTED 55 YEARS AGO, AND I HOLD HIS PROMISE IN PRINTED FORM, NEVER TO FORSAKE, NOR TO LEAVE ME ALONE.

HE WILL BE WITH ME AS I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOWS, AND I SHALL NOT LOSE MY WAY WHEN HE IS WITH ME. I HOPE TO HEAR YOUR SERMON ON HEAVEN NEXT SUNDAY FROM MY HOME, BUT I HAVE NO ASSURANCE THAT I SHALL BE ABLE TO DO SO.

MY TICKET TO HEAVEN HAS NO DATE MARKED FOR THE JOURNEY -- NO RETURN COUPON -- AND NO PERMIT FOR BAGGAGE. YES, I AM READY TO GO AND MAY NOT BE HERE WHILE YOU ARE TALKING NEXT SUNDAY, BUT I SHALL MEET YOU THERE SOME DAY."

IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT A VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN. SADLY, THE REASON USUALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT GOD IS THERE.

MOST PEOPLE ONLY SEE HEAVEN AS AN ETERNAL PLACE OF REST AND PEACE FROM THE EARTHLY LIFE THAT IS FILLED WITH PAIN, SICKNESS, TROUBLE AND DEATH.

THEY ARE RIGHT TO SOME DEGREE IN LOOKING AT HEAVEN THAT WAY, BUT THEY ARE WAY OFF THE MARK WHEN IT COMES TO WHY THEY WANT TO BE THERE.

EVEN THOUGH IT IS WONDERFUL TO LOOK FORWARD TO NO MORE PAIN, SORROW, OR DEATH OUR MAIN REASON FOR WANTING TO BE IN HEAVEN IS BECAUSE GOD IS THERE.

THIS SHOULD BE OUR FOCUS ON WHY WE WANT TO BE THERE AND WHY WE SHOULD BE STRIVING TO REACH OTHERS WITH THE GOOD NEWS ON HOW THEY CAN JOIN US.

AS CHRISTIANS WE SHOULD BE STRIVING AFTER WHAT WILL BE WHILE LIVING IN WHAT WE HAVE NOW. REVELATION 21 IS A CHAPTER THAT TAKES US TO THE ULTIMATE PROPHETIC VISION OF WHAT WE’RE STRIVING FOR: ETERNITY.

IN THIS ACCOUNT WE HAVE SURPASSED THE RAPTURE, THE SEVEN YEARS OF TRIBULATION AND HAVE CONCLUDED THE ONE-THOUSAND YEARS OF CHRIST’S MILLENNIAL REIGN AND NOW PREPARE FOR THE TIME OF THE NEW CREATION.

THE INTERESTING CONCEPT OF THIS TRANSFORMATION IS THAT WE DON’T GET ALL NEW THINGS, BUT THAT ALL THINGS BECOME NEW. A TOTAL RENOVATION OF THE UNIVERSE TAKES PLACE FROM THE COMMAND OF GOD WHO ORDERS IT.

A GREAT COSMIC RENEWAL OF DOING AWAY WITH ALL THE OLD THINGS OF SIN, WILL TAKE PLACE. EVERYTHING SINFUL THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED SINCE EVE TOOK THAT FIRST BITE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN WILL DISAPPEAR.

NO MORE SIN, DESPAIR, BROKENNESS, DEATH, DECAY, GRIEF, CRYING, PAIN AND ALL THAT CORRUPTS LIFE WILL BE DONE AWAY WITH AND WILL NEVER BE ENCOUNTERED AGAIN FOR ALL OF ETERNITY.

GOD HAD ORIGINALLY CREATED THE EARTH AND HEAVEN TO BE OUR PERMANENT HOME. BUT SIN AND DEATH ENTERED THE WORLD AND TRANSFORMED THE EARTH INTO A PLACE OF REBELLION AND ALIENATION. SIN TURNED EARTH OVER INTO THE HANDS OF ENEMY-OCCUPIED TERRITORY.